If you’ve never driven an electric car, you’re probably wondering what it feels like.
In many ways, EVs behave just like their petrol or diesel cousins, but almost every detail has its own little twist.
Acceleration in an EV is immediate. Press the accelerator and you go — there’s virtually no lag. It’s the bit you’ll get used to quickest.
That instant shove is a real boon when overtaking or easing into a tight spot.
But why is that such a perk for parking?
Simple: parking often means shuffling back and forth. In a manual, you feather the accelerator, find the biting point, then brake again — plenty of faff with clutch and gear stick.
In an EV it’s different. No need to blip the engine just to creep a few centimetres.
Spaces that ask you to pop over a kerb — forwards or in reverse — are noticeably easier in an electric.
Stopping distances can be a touch longer. EVs tend to weigh more thanks to their batteries.
Many models use regenerative braking to harvest energy and slow the car effectively, but in a pinch that extra mass can still make itself felt.
The way pedestrians perceive an EV is a curious case where quietness steals the show.
Because they glide along with barely a murmur, EVs can slip through the streets almost unnoticed. That can be tricky where people and cars share space — think narrow lanes with no pavements.
Picture yourself ambling down the road, wrapped in the usual city soundtrack, but without the tell-tale engine note that normally warns of a car approaching. The hush can be surprising; you might only clock the car when it’s right beside you.
This new dynamic asks drivers and pedestrians alike to pay a bit more attention, so the calming silence of electric motoring doesn’t turn into a safety risk.
